Rumney’s youngsters produced an amazing result that saw Carmarthen Athletic beaten 40-20 in a match switched from a wet Riverside Park to the nearby Cardiff University ground.
It was 18-0 after 39 minutes and yet the home line had taken a beating, but it held and with the help of two interception tries, the Cardiff-based club came through to win. Secretary James O’Brien said afterwards: “If it had been 18-all at that point I would not have grumbled.”
Lock Mike Kelly ran in for a try hat-trick for Rumney and former Youth skipper Paul Niblett returned on loan from Cardiff to score a try, while Carmarthen forward Graham Evans is still on 99 league tries. All he received was a yellow
card!
Full back Marc Davies – the Lloyds TSB player of the month for December – was a key man as Llanharan won 28-11 at UWIC. He scored a try, two conversions and three penalties and Peter de Snyder crossed for the Students with Gareth Morgan kicking two penalties.
Blackwood lost a 17-10 lead in the closing minutes to Llangennech after home tries by Gavin Rees and Craig Gould. Mark Jones kicked a penalty and converted Mark Bowen’s 13th try to send Llangennech ahead by 20-17.
Brynmawr gained a fine 19-9 win over Narberth with tries by Jonathan Preece and Matthew Price and three Jason Williams penaltiers, while leaders Maesteg won 68-10 at Treorchy with Grant Epton scoring three of the 12 tries and kicking
four conversions.
Beddau beat Tondu 65-7 with eleven tries resulting and Steve Robinson scoring 20 points and Glamorgan Wanderers saw off Bonymaen in style 29-3 with tries by Adrian Evans, Darryl Howden, Tom Lambert and James Davies.
Whitland gained an expected win at Tredegar as Aled Davies scored two of the six Borderers tries and kicked 18 points. while skipper Stuart Jarman crossed for Tredegar.
DIVISION TWO.
Llantrisant defeated Hirwaun 40-0 in the East in a surprising scoreline as wings Matthew Griffiths and Kevin Oliver, No 8 Huw Alford and lock David Owen (brother of international Michael) went over with a penalty try added and Jason Alford landed three conversions, a drop goal and two penalties.
Merthyr lived up to their Steelmen title with a 52-14 thrashing of Abercynon with Craig Cleaver notching three of the eight home tries and both Wayne Booth and Grant Davies kicking conversion hat-tricks.
Llantwit Fardre ran in 19 tries in a 107-0 AWAY win over Penygraig. The massacre brought Matthew Taylor (5), Peter Burridge (3) and four others, including international Greg Prosser, notched a brace of tries each with just six converted. Ystrad Rhondda scored a surprise 33-22 win at Risca and Builth Wells crashed 18-13 at home to Fleur de Lys despite a second-half rally.
In the West, both Dunvant and Cwmllynfell notched 32 points away and have 11 wins apeice, while Bridgend Athletic, Corus and Tonmawr are all on 10 wins after all three gained wins. Wing Andrew Luther scored four tries for Cwmllynfell.
Gareth Hurley and Keith Burke scored Pencoed tries in a 17-5 win over Cardigan and fly half Jason Davies booted 17 points as his Felinfoel side won 22-9 at Waunarlwydd.
